Legerdemain

CHAPTER-20

With a newfound hope, I stood. There were secrets buried too deep, and I had to dig them.

I must find the ring and free her soul.

The mirror opened wide, leading to an infinite path. The light awaited me, as I stepped inside the mirror. The ring had the amulet. That was why the woman needed it. There was no other reason that fit the question. She had a brother too.

The worst thing of it all, the mother was still alive. How could someone be so cruel and mean to their child? The countdown to the full moon didn't matter to me. I would get the ring even if there was no death threat looming over my head. When I'd get out of here, I would tell Rnyx everything, since the Tree of Immortals was in his kingdom.

Or are you looking for a reason to talk to him? A small voice inside my head said.

Shut up. He has a mate! I shushed it down. Rnyx was pretty, but I didn't have feelings for him. I enjoyed his company, but that is all. He was a kind person, one who deserved better than me.

The path went on and on, blinding light on both sides. Until I felt a whisper of magic. Beyond the light, a man stood. His face was covered with his cloak. An obsidian staff in his hand as he smiled in a sinister sense.

Fuck, again.

Nobody else was in sight. Did he have the ring I was looking for?

With a straight face, I kept moving forward. Whatever has to happen, will happen. So, why should I be terrified of destiny? If my end had to come today, it would come. Fate is an inevitable force, one that gives you choices to make, but destiny is all the same no matter what you choose. And today I chose to fight.

"Adreina, the future crown of Elsyrian." Shadows wielded around him as if he was having a hard time restraining them. A crooked smile flashed at me. "My wait ends."

His shadows took the form of a hand to pluck out a pouch from his pockets.

"I will give you the ring you are looking for..." he paused a good amount of time, "...on one condition."

Of course. Nothing in my realm was to be traded without having an upper hand in the deal.

"What condition?" I asked, confused.

"Take this vial and put it in Rnyx's drink for three nights straight. I don't care how you do it. I want it done."

"What? Why would I poison him?" Creases appeared on my forehead, matching my perplexed look.

"You do as I say or I won't give you this ring." He laughed, opening the pouch to reveal an emerald ring. It was the amulet I was looking for. This would free her.

"Your choice, Adreina." The emerald was hidden by his shadows.

Why him?

Out of all the people, why did the man pick him? Why not anyone else? What was that I didn't know?

"The next time you wake up, you will be in the kingdom of Astraimx. You have three nights to save yourself."

He raised his staff above his head. Before I could register what was happening, with a roar his hand came down, the staff hit my head with such brute force that blood trickled down my forehead like a river.

"Let's see if you live through this first."

My head spun. My breaths became labored. There was too much blood on my face. On my hands. The ground sunk beneath my feet.

"Lest you shall fail, Adreina, you better hide then."

The light around my eyes dimmed and dimmed and dimmed until there was no light.